Auditor warns new type of skimmer found inside Hamilton Co. gas station

Skimmers are now being found inside gas stations at card readers by the register, officials say

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 11:45 PM EST Dec 20, 2016

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT NT.IT'S NOT JUST AT THE GAS PUMPANYMORE.>> IT'S STEALING PEOPLE'SIDENTITIES, IT BASICALLY ISIDENTITY THEFT AT THIS POINT. DAN: THE HAMILTON COUNTY AUDITORSAYS SKIMMERS ARE NOW BEINGFOUND INSIDE GAS STATIONS ATCARD READERS BY THE REGISTER.>> I HAVE NEVER ACTUALLY LOOKEDFOR THEM, BUT I'VE DEFINITELYHEARD OF THEM.>> IT WAS REPORTED TO US BY ATHIRD-PARTY.DAN: AUDITOR DUSTY RHODES SAYSTHE WARNING COMES AFTER WLWTALERTED HIM LAST WEEK.WE WERE DIGGING INTO THE STORY,FOLLOWING TIPS THE SKIMMERS MAYHAVE BEEN IN SOME THORNTONS GASSTATIONS IN THE TRI-STATE.RHODES CONFIRMED THERE WAS ONEFOUND AT THE LOCATION ALONGPRINCETON PIKE.>> THESE PEOPLE ARE STICKINGTHESE THINGS ON THE CREDIT CARDREADERS IN THE STORE, ANDTHEY'RE VERY THIN, AND THEY'REVERY HARD TO SPOT. DAN: HE SAYS THE CROOKS USEBLUETOOTH SOMEWHERE NEARBY TOHIJACK CARD INFORMATION.RHODES SAYS THE DEVICES ARECHEAP AND WIDELY AVAILABLE.>> ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO DEVOTESOME TIME AND ENERGY T TRYINGTO BREAK THE LAW, IT'S BECOMINGEASIER TO DO. DAN: RHODES SAYS WORKINGTOGETHER IS KEY TO BEATING THEBAD GUYS.BUT HE SAYS THORNTONS HAS BEEN,IN HIS WORDS, UNCOOPERATIVE.THORNTONS SAYS IT CONTINUES TOPROVIDE ITS FULL AND ON-GOINGSUPPORT TO THE U.S. SECRETSERVICE THROUGHOUT ITSINVESTIGATION INTO THIS MTTER.MEANWHILE, DRIVERS SAY THISHOLIDAY THEY ARE KEEPING TABS ONEVERY CENT.SOME WILL JUST USE CASH.>> ALL YOU CAN DO IS TRY TO KEEPTRACK OF YOUR FINANCES, MAKESURE THERE'S NOTHING POPPING UPTHAT YOU CAN'T ACCOUNT FOR. DAN: RHODES SAYS IT'S NOT CLEARHOW MANY CARDS MAY HAVE BEENCOMPROMISED BY THAT INSIDESKIMMER.IT'S CERTAINLY A REMINDER FOREVERYONE.REPORTING DOWNTOWN, DAN GRIFFIN,

Auditor warns new type of skimmer found inside Hamilton Co. gas station

Skimmers are now being found inside gas stations at card readers by the register, officials say

The Hamilton County auditor is issuing a warning after WLWT tipped him off to potential skimmers inside gas stations.

The auditor said the problem is real and people need to be vigilant.

Advertisement

Throughout the last year, several credit card skimmers have been found at Hamilton and Butler County gas stations. But Auditor Dusty Rhodes said they're not just at the gas pump anymore.

Rhodes said the warning comes after WLWT alerted him last week. We were digging into the story following tips the skimmers may have been in some Thorntons gas stations across the Tri-State.

Rhodes confirmed there was one found on a card reader by the register at the location along Princeton Pike. He said an official with Thorntons told him the device was sent to the company's home office and then to the Department of Homeland Security.

It makes the advice to pay inside instead of at the pump feel pointless.

"These people are sticking these things on the credit card readers in the store and they're very thin and they're very hard to spot," Rhodes said.

He said the crooks use Bluetooth somewhere nearby to hijack card information. Rhodes said the devices are cheap and widely available.

"Anybody who wants to devote some time and energy to trying to break the law, it's becoming easier to do," Rhodes said.

He said working together is key to beating the bad guys. But Rhodes told WLWT that Thorntons has been "uncooperative."

He said the company never contacted police or his office.

Thorntons released this statement to WLWT, saying in part, "Regarding reports of recent attempts to place skimmer devices on the payment systems at Thorntons stores, Thorntons continues to provide its full and on-going support to the U.S. Secret Service throughout its investigation into this matter. Local agencies are directed to contact their local Secret Service field office for more information as needed."

Thorntons also said it has "recently learned about the risk potential in-store as well and are taking extra measures on the inside PIN pads by placing and verifying security seals that are easily visible if tampered with or removed."

Rhodes said during an inspection, one of his employees spotted a new security seal on a credit card PIN pad.

Meanwhile, drivers said this holiday they are keeping tabs on every cent. Some will just use cash.

"All you can do is try to keep track of your finances, make sure there's nothing popping that you can't account for," driver Alex Smith said.

Rhodes said it's not clear how many cards may have been compromised by the inside skimmer, but it's a reminder for everyone to be on the lookout.

The auditor said he's not certain if his office has jurisdiction to inspect the readers inside the stores.